Dementia is not a specific disease but is used to describe a range of symptoms concerning one’s mental faculties.

Alzheimer and other forms of Dementia

Alzheimer however is a disease which results in mental decline and is
the most common form of dementia accounting for between 60% - 80% of
cases.

The next most common form is Vascular dementia which is
caused by having a stroke. This was the cause of my father’s dementia
which was not too severe and allowed him to enjoy a reasonable quality
of life.

Other diseases such as syphilis and thyroid malfunction can also cause dementia.

Senile
dementia is indicative of a general decline in mental faculties
associated with old age. I remember my grandmother suffered from this
when she was very old although members of her generation tended to live
less active lives with fewer mental and physical activities to keep them
healthy.

Symptoms of Dementia

To be considered suffering from dementia at least two of these mental attributes need to be significantly impaired.